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Mardi Gras Celebration in Eunice, Louisiana

Cajun Mardi Gras Festival

This five-day celebration is not your typical idea of Mardi Gras. There are no beads and doubloons here. Instead, in Eunice, Louisiana, men and women on horseback don hand-crafted wire masks, tall hats called capuchons, and colorful costumes. The main event is the Courir de Mardi Gras & Chicken Run. Here, revelers chase a chicken or guineafowl and participate in Medieval begging practices.

The courir takes place on Mardi Gras day and is only one part of the celebration. Starting the Friday before Mardi Gras Day, you can cut loose all weekend long. Dance in the street at music concerts and jam sessions. There are even activities for children and teenagers at the Lil’ Mardi Gras held on Sunday. Also on Sunday is an old-time boucherie (hog butchering).

The Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras dates back to when the town was first established in the late 19th century. The courir was abandoned for a few years during World War II, but in 1946 a small band of riders revived the tradition. Today, the Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras has more than 2,000 participants on the run. It continues to increase each year.

Learn more about the history of rural Louisiana Mardi Gras traditions here.

Hourly Schedule

Friday, February 28

6:30pm - 8:30pm
Live Music
9p - 11pm
Live Music

Saturday, March 1

11am - 12pm
Live Music
11am - 12pm
Crawfish Étouffée Cooking Demo
1pm - 2pm
Children's Mardi Gras Mask Making
1pm - 3pm
Live Music
3pm
Paw Parade
3:30pm
Basile Mardi Gras Association Presentation
4pm - 5:30pm
Live Music
6pm - 8pm
Live Music
8:30pm - 12am
Live Music

Sunday, March 2

9:30am
Old Time Boucherie
10am - 11:30am
Ryan Simon & Acadien
12pm - 1:30pm
Live Music
2pm
Live Music
3pm
Lil Mardi Gras Parade
4pm - 6pm
Live Music

Monday, March 3

12:30pm
History of Mardi Gras Costumes Presentation
1pm
Adult Mardi Gras Mask Making
2pm
Gumbo Cooking Demo
2:30pm
Live Music
4pm - 5:30pm
Live Music
6pm - 7:30pm
Live Music
8pm - 9:30pm
Live Music
10pm - 12am
Live Music

Tuesday, March 4

9:30am
Live Music
11am
Live Music
1:30pm
Live Music
3pm
Courir de Mardi Gras
4pm
Live Music
6pm
Live Music
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